Page 81 of Four Dates and A Forever
Her heart fluttered. “I didn’t know.”
“That’s okay.” Owen put his hand on her lower back and guided her past the long line and toward the entrance. “Watching him stress was priceless. So thanks for that. We have a poll going on just how long he’d wait before ditching the concert to go looking for you.”
“Does he know about the poll?”
“He gave himself ten to one odds that he’d bail at halftime, leaving me to host. So thanks for showing. I hate playing the jester.”
Rhett would make an excellent MC. He’s funny and real and knows how to work a crowd. So then, “Why is he stressed?” she asked, concerned. “Is he reconsidering playing?”
Owen mumbled something like, “He’s reconsidering something,” but it was hard to tell over the noise.
They entered through the front door and were immediately assaulted by the stench of beer, the loud chatter of the audience, and the crush of people—she nearly turned tail and walked out. This scene was so achingly familiar. It was everything she hated about her marriage. Elsie standing on the sidelines while Axel got to live out his dream. Then there were the women, filling the front two rows and lining the walls—waiting for their moment to pounce.
Before Axel’s infidelity Elsie had never been bothered by groupies nor had she been jealous, but after his betrayal—his multiple betrayals that spanned most of their marriage—seeing the women watching Rhett ignited something inside Elsie that she didn’t like.
A wave of uncertainty washed over her, nearly taking her breath in a riptide of jealousy. What was she doing here? And how did she think this was going to end? They’d go their separate ways, then what? Rhett would be back on the market, and she’d have to watch him shuffle through a rolodex of women. While Elsie stood from the sidelines yet again—her feelings insignificant.
It would be just like her divorce, but worse because his conquests would be plastered on every tabloid and magazine in the country. At the bookstore in town, the checkout line at the Hub and Grub, even her hair salon.
“Maybe I should go.” She began to turn around, but Owen caught her hand.
“I didn’t take you for a coward.”
She bristled. “You don’t even know me.”
“Maybe not,” Owen said softly, “but I know that look. And I’ve watched my brother waver between knowing you’d show and fearing that he’d be left standing alone. He has this stupid idea in his head that he isn’t worth fighting for. Are you the kind of person to leave him hanging?”
His question hit hard, like thunder rattling her brain. She didn’t want to be another walk-out in his life and hurt Rhett like his ex had. She knew what that felt like. But she also didn’t know if she could go through feeling like just one in a crowd of many.
“No. I’m not a coward,” she said, feeling like the Lion in theThe Wizard of Oz. She looked around the intimidating room and a thin sheen of perspiration glistened on her forehead. She thought back to what her mom would say in this situation, her favorite Brené Brown saying, “Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.”
And Elsie was ready to be seen. She glanced around, searching for a seat, but the place was standing-room only. There were the lucky few who’d snagged seats, probably because they’d camped out overnight, then there were the dedicated fans who’d chosen to fill any available space, the VIP section, and finally the family area. Then there was Elsie somewhere in the middle. “Where should I stand?”
“Rhett saved you a seat.” Owen took led her through the room to the bar, using his big body to shelter her from the sardine can of people around them. He guided her to a single chair that sat behind a roped off area, in the middle of four women, who all looked at her the same way Owen had.
Like they knew her. And one did.
“Piper?” Elsie said.
“Uh, surprise! I’m sorry I didn’t tell you before, I didn’t want to freak you out,” Piper said.
“Like we’re doing right now,” a brunette beside her said.
Elsie’s palms began to tremble, so she put them behind her back.
“We won’t bite,” one of the women, with blonde shoulder-length hair, said. Owen laughed.
Elsie gave a forced laugh and took a seat. “Hi, I’m—”
“Elsie,” a woman with a southern accent said. “We know.”
“Not a lot,” Piper said, and it was nice to see a familiar face. “All we know is that Rhett doesn’t want us to know anything about you.”
“You could have asked me about it at the photo shoot, which by the way I totally owe you for, because the photographs turned out amazing.”
“My pleasure,” Piper said. “And the other day was business. This is girls’ night and that means gossip is fair game.”
“So he really hasn’t told you anything?”
